TOEFL Tips and Strategies by Andrew

Jul 7, 2024

TOEFL Tips and Strategies by Andrew

Introduction

  • Andrew: University student at J in Korea
  • Missed 1 problem on TOEFL, scored 119/120
  • Aims to help others achieve the same
  • Emphasizes test familiarity over language familiarity
  • Free resources: Notion template with TOEFL vocab flashcards & detailed strategies

Reading Section

General Tips

  1. Approach Order: Read the first sentence of each paragraph -> move to questions -> read paragraph -> answer.
    • Questions are arranged sequentially or chronologically.
  2. Rephrase Questions: Simplify complex questions into your own words to understand better.
  3. Find Synonyms: Identify synonyms in the text to match questions with the relevant part of the text.
  4. Pacing: Solve half of the questions in half the given time.

Listening Section

General Tips

  1. Avoid Daydreaming: Stay focused and attentive; key details might be missed within seconds.
  2. Note-taking Balance:
    • Too many notes can be distracting.
    • Too few notes may result in forgetting information.
    • Be an active listener: focus on expected parts (Campus conversations vs. Academic lectures).
  3. Don't Focus on Small Details: Prioritize understanding the bigger picture over small, difficult-to-understand vocabulary words.

Speaking Section

General Tips

  1. Delivery: Speak clearly, open your mouth, and increase volume.
    • Make sure the AI and human graders can understand you.
  2. Content & Templates: Templates can help structure responses and avoid awkward pauses.
    • Detailed templates are available in Andrew's resources.
    • Taking notes to fill in the template blanks is essential.

Writing Section

General Tips

  1. Use Templates: Templates help structure your essay (50% done), focus on content (remaining 50%).
  2. Outline and Organize Essays:
    • Integrated Writing: Introduction, two body paragraphs, concluding sentence.
      • Introduction: Introduce the topic, author's opinion, and counter-lecture opinion.
      • Body Paragraphs: Author's opinion + contrasting lecture opinion.
      • Conclusion: Compare author and lecture views.
    • Academic Discussion: Write one long paragraph.
      • Introduce the topic, give your opinion, provide examples.
      • Acknowledge a student's view (agree/disagree).
      • Summarize your points in the conclusion.

General Tips & Conclusion

  • Practice regularly to improve and become comfortable with the format.
  • Start without a timer and gradually introduce timed practice.
  • Additional in-depth videos might be available based on demand.
  • Andrew offers various resources to help, detailed in his Notion template.

For more detailed templates and resources, refer to Andrew's Notion template linked in his video description.